I took carbimazole from the age of 15 when I was found to be hyperthyroid. After failing to settle after treatment I went ahead with RAI for my overactive thyroid 7 yrs ago when I was 21. Since RAI I have been medicine free and felt ok and had couple of blood tests which came back fine but it's only this year I've become Subclinically hypothyroid on paper - My TSH went to 7.5.
My Gp refused antibodies So I got that checked by medichecks
Thyroglobulin was elevated 1229 (0-115)
TPO was within range at 30
That seems quite high thyroglobulin and any advice from anyone regarding that result would be appreciated
Written by
Hypo88
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They judged the dose of RAI well, enough to regulate your thyroid levels without making you hypothyroid.
Thyroglobulin antibodies are positive for autoimmune thyroid disease (Hashimoto's). There is no cure for Hashimoto's which causes 90% of hypothyroidism. Levothyroxine treatment is for the low thyroid levels it causes. Many people have found that 100% gluten-free diet is helpful in reducing Hashi flares, symptoms and eventually antibodies.
TSH 7.5 is usually well over range, not what I'd call borderline. It won't do you any good unless you take Levothyroxine every day.
The goal of Levothyroxine is to restore the patient to euthyroid status. For most patients that will be when TSH is 0.4 - 1.0 with FT4 in the upper range. FT4 needs to be in the upper range in order that sufficient T3 is converted. Read Treatment Options in thyroiduk.org.uk/tuk/about_...
For maximum absorption Levothyroxine should be taken with water 1 hour before, or 2 hours after, food and drink, 2 hours away from other medication and supplements, and 4 hours away from calcium, iron, vitamin D supplements, magnesium and oestrogen.
It takes 7-10 days for Levothyroxine to be absorbed before it starts working and it will take up to six weeks to feel the full impact of the dose. Symptoms may lag behind good biochemistry by several months.
You should have a follow up thyroid test 6-8 weeks after starting Levothyroxine. Arrange an early morning and fasting (water only) blood draw when TSH is highest, and take Levothyroxine after your blood draw.
Thanks for your response and advice - what do you think about trying NDT pills instead ? I'm reading a lot of people don't get on with levothyroxine on here ??
I think you should try Levothyroxine first. 80% of patients do well on Levothyroxine once they are optimally dosed. You've not been taking it long or regularly so you can't expect it to work.
NDT doesn't suit everyone either. It isn't an instant fix and you won't get it on the NHS.
It was in the last paragraph---Considering what I said above, I hope that one thing is clear: whether you come to our clinic or not, you can accumulate evidence that should convince any reasonable doctor that you probably have too little thyroid hormone regulation. If that evidence exists, then a trial of thyroid hormone therapy—although not T4-replacement!—is in order. Remember that the TSH, T4, or T3 don't reliably tell you whether you do or don't need treatment. So, if you let your doctor deny you a trial of thyroid hormone therapy because of reference range levels of these tests, you’ll be allowing him or her put your health and well-being at risk. I personally wouldn't let an uninformed doctor subject me to that.
Dr. Lowe (now deceased) was an American doctor who didn't rate T4 for his patients preferring NDT or T3. I'm afraid you won't have that option on the NHS. Levothyroxine is the preferred treatment for the NHS.
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Anti-thyroglobulin antibodies
NDT trial with an elevated anti-thyroglobulin antibody
Elevated TPO
thyroglobulin antibody count
High antibodies thyroglobulin 1.253
